2

The year 2 (II) was a common year that started on Sunday, according to the Julian calendar. According to the Gregorian calendar, it started on a Tuesday.

At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Vinicius and Varus. It was the 2nd year of the 1st century.

Roman Empire

• Following the death of Lucius Caesar, Livia Drusilla convinced Augustus to allow her son Tiberius back into Rome as a private citizen. This was after six years in enforced retirement on Rhodes.
• Gaius Caesar meets with Phraates V, the king of Parthia on the Euphrates.
• Publius Alfenus Varus and Publius Vinicius become Roman Consuls.

Europe

• Cedeides becomes Archon of Athens.
• Using Roman military support, Artavasdes III, son of Ariobarzanes II, king of Media Atropatene, becomes the king of Armenia.

Africa

• Juba II of Mauretania joins Gaius Caesar in Armenia as a military advisor.

Asia

• The first census is concluded in China. The census has begun the year before. Final numbers show a population of nearly 60 million (59,594,978 people in a bit more than 12 million households). The census is one of the most accurate surveys in Chinese history.
• The Chinese census shows nearly one million people living in Vietnam.

Births

• Apollonius of Tyana (d. 98)
• Deng Yu, Han Dynasty general and statesman (d. 58)

Deaths

• Lucius Caesar, son of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Julia the Elder. He was also the heir to the throne in Gaul. (b. 17 BC)